Crutch pad



June 12, 1923. 1,673,609

J; A. WElS CRUTCH PAD I I Filed July 28, 1927 [7203???021 k/afzn Q. dz/ezav Patented June 12, 1928.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CRUTCE PAID.

Application filed July 28, 1927. Serial No. 208,959.

This invention relates to pads for crutches.

The main objectof this invention is to provide an improved form of pad for the arm piece of a crutch which may be readily attached thereto, which will be securely retained on the arm piece by means of the elastic material of which it is made, and which will be both effective and durable.

An illustrative embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a crutch arm piece having secured thereto the improved crutch pad which is shown in section.

Fig. 2 is a top plan of the crutch pad,

showing in dotted lines the cellular arrangement of air cushions in the bottom thereof.

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the arm piece of a crutch showing the improved crutch pad secured thereto.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken on lme 4-4 of Fig. 1.

In the construction shown in the drawings, the arm piece 1 of the crutch is shown having the improved form of crutch pad 2 secured thereto. The crutch pad is preferably made of rubber or some other elastic and resilient material and is in the form of a sheath whose ends 3 are adapted to be stretched overthe oppositely projecting horns 4 of the crutch arm piece. The lower portion of the crutch pad'is hollow and partitioned by intersecting webs or walls to provide a plurality of non-communicating cellular air pockets 5 which cushion the arm of the user.

Inasmuch as the cellular air pockets do not communicate with one another, all of the air Within the several pockets cannot be readily forced out or shifted from one portion of the pad to another when the weight of the user is carried on the pad. The partitions 6 are of substantial thickness and the side walls 7 are heavy so as to insure a practically permanent cushioning quality.

The thin end li s 3 and the side walls 7 are continuous an surround the lower open mouth of the pad so that when it is in position on the crutch these edges will be slightly stretched and snugly hug the adjacent contour of the arm piece. The air cells are deeper in the middle portion of the pad than at the ends, thus distributing the cushioning properties in ,a most efiicient manner. Since the lower edges of the partitions are shaped to conform with the arm piece, the air in each cell is confined against escape when under load and each cell forms an independent local cushion.

lVhile but one specific embodiment of this invention has been herein shown and described, it will be understood that numerous details of the construction shown may be altered or omitted without departing from the spirit of this invention as defined by the following claims:

I claim:

1. In a crutch pad, an elastic sheath adapted to fit over the arm piece of a crutch and having a plurality of depending partitions forming a plurality of non-communicating air pockets in the interior thereof, said pockets being closed by contact with the surface of the crutch arm piece.

2. In a crutch pad, an elastic sheath adapted to fit over the arm piece of a crutch and having a plurality of depending partitions forming a plurality of non-connnunicating cellular air pockets in the interior thereof, said partitions forming supporting walls for the bearing portion of said pad.

3. In a crutch pad, an elastic sheath adapted to fit over the arm piece of a crutch and having a hollow portion extending over the top of the arm piece and subdivided by intcrsccting portions into a plurality of non-communicating air cells.

4. In a crutch pad, an elastic sheath adapted to fit over the arm piece of a crutch and having a hollow portion extending over the top of the arm piece and subdivided by intersecting portions into a plurality of non-communicating air cells, the bottom edges of said partitions and the side walls of the pad being shaped to substantially conform to the surface of the arm piece when in position thereon.

Sgned at Chicago this 25th day of July, 192

JOHN A. WEIS. 

